Director John Carpenter always held a particular fondness for the horror/thriller genre from the time he began making films. But it was the 1978 film Halloween, a gruesome story of a murderous stalker, that truly catapulted his career - and the genre of slasher films that would follow. Featuring the film debut of a very young Jamie Lee Curtis and the internationally acclaimed actor Donald Pleasence, Halloween is an annual favorite, a must-watch every time October rolls around. Continue reading...

When it came right down to it, Kevin McCallister had a few more sadistic tendencies than your average kid. And it turns out, we rather like that in a young hero, especially during the season of giving. Make no mistake, Kevin had plenty to give, in the way of bowling balls, staple guns and blow torches – all in the name of protecting his beloved family home. His entertaining antics and precocious demeanor won the hearts of the millions who made 1990’s Home Alone one of the most successful movies of all time. Continue reading...

The concept of “bumbling inventor” was a tried and true formula for Disney, dating all the way back to The Absent-Minded Professor. In 1989, they would dust off the concept and cast Rick Moranis in the role of eccentric genius. The result was the highly-successful Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Continue reading...

At the turn of the century, author J. M. Barrie created the beloved character, Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up. But what if Peter actually had grown up into the cynical world of adulthood? Would he be able to remember his fanciful childhood adventures or discard them completely? Such was the premise of the 1991, Steven Spielberg-directed film, Hook. With a star-studded cast, featuring Dustin Hoffman as Capt. Hook, Julia Roberts as Tinker Bell and manic comedian extraordinaire Robin Williams in the starring role, Hook was a fun-filled adventure that brought a dose of mid-life crisis to the faraway world of Neverland. Continue reading...

While the 1933 film, Mystery of the Wax was the inspiration for this flick, it simply couldn’t hold a candle to the 3D adventure that was 1953’s House of Wax. With the inimitable Vincent Price in the lead role and screen-popping special effects, House of Wax was destined to become a classic. Continue reading...

Howard the Duck probably seemed like a great idea at the time - a movie about a misplaced giant mallard, cigar in hand, walking the streets of Cleveland in search of a way back to Duckworld. Hey, it worked in a comic book. Why not on the big-screen? Continue reading...

Of all the Hollywood-inspired alien invaders over the years, none were quite as bold and ruthless as those seeking to conquer the planet in the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day. Moviegoers lined up in droves to watch us defend our humble home from their destructive forces and, by proxy, ushered in a whole new era of disaster films. Continue reading...

A family favorite. A holiday perennial. An American classic. Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life is all of these and more, a crowning achievement of both the director and his leading man, Jimmy Stewart. Under the banner of his new production company, Liberty Films, Capra debuted the masterpiece just before Christmas, 1946. Continue reading...